FINALIST

JUNO

Category : STUDENT
By Nitisha Jaiswal (United States)

JUNO is a bike light designed for female bicyclists. As the options for commuting grow in number, so does the need for safe options. JUNO can be seen as a light which acts as a companion which make female cyclists feel comfortable while biking at night. JUNO empowers women to commute safely late at night, without any worries of getting lost or being stranded in the dark or being attacked by a stranger.

Interface Design: JUNO has a simple interface that connects to your phone. You can enter destination details etc. on your phone and then choose your companion. Your companion could be a nearby rider who is riding to the same destination as you or it could be a friend sitting at home, who can be notified of your route. JUNO also provides easy navigation, as well as one tap call to 911 in case of any emergency.

Product Design: In terms of physical interaction, JUNO is minimalistic and effortless. The front light and the backlight can be easily snapped upon the bike via magnetic attachments. Their structure and materials are well chosen for rough usage. Front lights also blink at turnings as well as back lights glow bright as the bike is brought to a halt.

Sustainability: Life of light is 5 years if used for one hour per day. The aim of JUNO is to provide 200 degree lighting for easy and secure visibility. The back lights flash, making the bike more visible as well as consuming half the amount of energy. One could charge JUNO with a micro USB. In terms of upgrades, JUNO’s microprocessor is replaceable and controls the LED lights as well as the software. At the end of life, 70% of the parts can be recycled.

Empowerment best reflects JUNO, as its user centeredness aims to fulfill the emotional needs of the user; by keeping simple and meaningful interactions and the need for sustainable design in mind. JUNO is the perfect example of how human behavior should shape products and experiences

PROCESS AND TOOLS

The working model as well as the lookalike model is made of laser cut acrylic. The working model had LED's inside it, soldered together. It was powered by batteries for demonstration purposes. The base fixtures had magnetic attachments to them and their bodies were made of plastic, some parts were also 3D printed.